Indian Diaspora | Pridhee Kapoor Gupta | T4Tales

Global IndianstoryPridhee Kapoor Gupta: Helping diaspora kids to be confident in their native language

Pridhee Kapoor Gupta: Helping diaspora kids to be confident in their native language

Written by: Amrita Priya

(April 16, 2023) Having lived in six countries – India, Bahrain, Germany, Australia, United States and now Singapore, Pridhee Kapoor Gupta knows how English becomes a predominant language of communication in expat homes. In India too, the medium of conversation is often English in modern households. As a result, kids do not develop the fluency to communicate in their mother tongues.

Realising that if kids from the diaspora are not introduced to their native language in their formative years, they might never pick it up when their exposure to multiculturalism increases, Pridhee started her publishing house, T4Tales. Over the last eight years, she has been publishing interactive board books for children to be confident speakers in their mother tongues.

Pridhee Kapoor Gupta, Founder and CEO, T4Tales

“There aren’t many publishers who are publishing such books in Indian languages,” says Pridhee. “An interactive board book is an amalgamation of a toy and a book that facilitates learning by involving all the senses of a child.”

Books published by T4Tales enhance conversational skills in Hindi, Gujrati, and Tamil and are available in the US, UK, Australia, Singapore and India. “We have recently expanded our reach. Now parents across the globe can purchase our books at Shopify.” Pridhee tells Global Indian.

In a recent development, the Public Libraries of Brooklyn and New York have agreed to stock the entire line of T4Tales Hindi books.

Apart from being a book publisher, Pridhee has been working as a teacher for the last one-and-a-half decades at Eton House International in Singapore. “It’s a renowned international school with several branches spread across the globe,” she says.

How teaching helps publishing

Pridhee’s 15 years of experience in teaching primary school kids at an international school helps her meet the language learning goals of diaspora kids. T4Tales is not just a business venture for her. “It’s an avenue to make a meaningful difference.” Interspersing her pedagogical expertise with her entrepreneurial moves the publisher has made her venture unique. “Interactions with my pupils often give me insights to decide the next step in my business,” she says.

Pridhee during one of the T4Tales workshops

Raising two kids outside India has also given Pridhee an insight into what was missing in the Indian language learning space for the diaspora kids. In fact, the idea of T4Tales stemmed from personal experiences as a mother. “I used to feel disappointed when my daughter would find the most colourful and interactive books in English at the bookstores and spend hours flipping through the pages but did not have such option in Hindi,” says Pridhee.

Trials and triumphs

The book publisher has not just authored and co-authored some of the books but keeps herself fully involved in all the stages of production so that the final products are not just appealing to the eyes but fulfil the purpose.

“We try our best to incorporate as much variety as we can to keep the learners engaged so that they pick up the language easily while being involved in fun learning,” she says.

After eight years, she now has a hold over the domain, but having started out without a business background meant a great deal of perseverance in the early years. “With trial and error and a growth mindset I surged ahead. I am blessed to have connected with amazing people who helped me in my entrepreneurial journey. Early on, I was lucky to get a mentor who kept me on track, and even now guides me when required” she says .

Demand for children’s books will never die

Though there are many books out in the market, and marketing books in today’s times is an uphill task Pridhee does not get intimidated. “My books have a niche market, and there has been a dearth of learning resources in Indian languages,” she remarks adding, “Paediatricians all over the globe have been recommending lessening the screen time of kids. Parents are becoming more aware of the benefits of resources like my interactive board books. They want to limit the screen time of their children, as recommended.”

Pridhee with her junior from IIT Delhi, Aathira Nair who looks into T4Tales marketing efforts in India

All T4Tales books come with English transliteration so that the learners do not get the pronunciation wrong. “I know of many families where one parent is Indian and the other belongs to a different country. English transliteration helps the parents of the foreign descents to also be proudly involved in their children’s language learning developments,” she shares.

Apart from connecting kids to their roots through books, T4Tales also helps keep the concept of storytelling alive. Pridhee and the authors of her books conduct regular storytelling and book reading sessions at bookstores, schools and libraries in their respective countries.

The course of life

Born and raised in Bahrain, Pridhee did her degree in biochemical engineering and biotechnology at IIT-Delhi. She went on to do her PhD in molecular and cellular biology from Heidelberg University in Germany, where the programme also helped her hone her teaching and training skills, apart from research. Later, her learnings as a parent led Pridhee to pursue a career that revolved around education.

However, biology is not completely off the radar for the founder and CEO of T4Tales. “I would certainly do something around it,” she says reassuringly to her parents, who live in Bahrain. “Who knows, there would be a new book series around the subject,” smiles the publisher who is excited about having four new books in the pipeline.

Follow Pridhee Kapoor Gupta on LinkedIn and Twitter
Follow T4Tales on Facebook, Instagram and its website

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Sneha Rajkumar Hirwani

May 11, 2023 2:49 am

Pridhee you have set foot on a beautiful venture so that diaspora children do not lose their roots. May you grow. Wishing you all the best

Published on 16, Apr 2023

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‘Belting’ out sustainability: How social entrepreneur Gautam Malik’s eco-friendly bags are the rage

(February 14, 2022) The visual language of accessories on the buzzing streets of New York in the 2000s left a lasting impression on Gautam Malik. Seeing them as an extension of one’s personal style, he understood the huge market for it. Cut to 2015, the 44-year-old took a leaf out of that book, and turned into a social entrepreneur to start Jaggery Bags, with a twist. Helping the environment breathe, the social entrepreneur decided to turn old car seat belts into eco-friendly bags. “People were recycling plastic waste, but when I stumbled upon old and discarded car seat belts, I realised the potential because of their sturdiness,” Gautam shares with Global Indian in an exclusive. His startup has today recycled 9,546 metres of car seat belts, and 5,986 meters of cargo belts from landfills in Delhi/NCR. The passion project has now taken on a global entity with customers in India, US, Australia, Japan, Italy, France and Switzerland. “When we started, sustainability wasn’t the buzzword but soon the idea started resonating with the environment-friendly. We are creating products that help change the perception of waste,” adds the TedTalk speaker. The Gurugram-based startup is a change-maker, and has already been accepted to

�� adds the TedTalk speaker. The Gurugram-based startup is a change-maker, and has already been accepted to the World Economic Forum’s Catalyst 2030 for being a prominent part of the modern-day online community of impact makers.

[caption id="attachment_19873" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Social Entrepreneur | Gautam Malik Gautam Malik with his eco-friendly bags[/caption]

Dreaming big for the planet

Born in 1977 to professor parents, Gautam was drawn to the idea of the American dream as a young lad. However, before the fructification of his dream, he found his calling in architecture and enrolled at the University of Pune (architecture and planning) to learn the tricks of the trade. But things took a turn when the social entrepreneur stumbled upon sustainable living during a short internship at Auroville. “I attribute much of what I am doing now to that experience. For the first time, I came across a new system of existence,” recalls Gautam. Calling it a “eureka” moment, he was fascinated by the concept of co-creating a common green philosophy that was sustainable.

Thinking sustainability

His first tryst with sustainability left him contemplating, but he dropped the idea after realising it wasn’t the modus operandi for Indians in the 90s. Instead, he turned his energy to his American dream. He enrolled at Memphis College of Art (communication design). He then discovered a passion for film and video, and in 2005, he joined University at Buffalo in media studies. “Those years were very liberating and enterprising. However, I often found myself asking, ‘What’s my purpose in life?’ I wasn’t satisfied with where I was,” adds the social entrepreneur.

[caption id="attachment_19875" align="aligncenter" width="479"] Social Entrepreneur | Gautam Malik Products by Jaggery Bags[/caption]

While a sense of purpose kept gnawing at him, he worked as an interface designer, and creative director in New York for several years before returning to India in 2010. “The American dream was old and passe, and NRIs were returning to India,” explains the social entrepreneur who started Suitcase 27, and later joined Jabong where he stumbled upon sustainability reports which helped him identify the huge gap in the market. “I started researching millennials’ buying habits and the green audience. It took me back to my NYC days where accessories were an extension of a personal style. A Swiss brand, Freitag, caught my eye,” recalls the social entrepreneur whose interest in upcycling grew after seeing Freitag reuse tarpaulin waste for bags.

"The strong need for a company that worked on the same ethos but in an Indian context,” was what he set out to do. Jaggery Bags was born in 2015 after quitting Jabong. “My family was shocked with my decision. It took me three to six months to convince them,” says Gautam, who co-founded the company with his wife Bhawna Dandona, whom he met in Pune during college. They married in 2004. His mother Usha Malik is a former professor at Delhi University.

[caption id="attachment_19872" align="aligncenter" width="467"] Social Entrepreneur | Gautam Malik Gautam Malik with his wife Bhawna Dandona[/caption]

Researching the dream

The social entrepreneur’s recce across Delhi led him to Mayapuri where he found old sturdy seat belts. “If a car seat belt can hold the weight of a person, it is a strong raw material for a bag. Also, it wasn’t a material explored before,” says Gautam. The first batch of Jaggery Bags was circulated among friends and family. Garnering interest, and a market for eco-friendly bags, Gautam pushed the pedal on production.

The early days were “tough,” and it took them two to three years to find a footing in India. “It was after my TedTalk in 2019 that the floodgates opened, and we garnered international interest,” says Gautam, who also added cargo belts in 2018. Currently, Jaggery Bags works with canvas tents, parachutes, automobile seat belts, and inflatable castles. They make pouches, laptop bags, satchel bags and bagpacks which are priced between Rs 1500 and Rs 8000. “Raw materials are sorted, washed, and sun-dried before turning them into products,” adds Gautam.

[caption id="attachment_19874" align="aligncenter" width="499"] Social Entrepreneur | Global Indian Sourcing car belts from Mayapuri[/caption]

On its quirky name, he adds, “Like jaggery is a healthy substitute for sugar, we want to provide a healthy substitute for bags. A brand that’s synonymous with organic, healthy, and environment friendly.” The sustainable startup has now spread its wings in Italy, Japan, Switzerland and France with exporting. “We soon realised that the startup had the masala for a global entity, and the grit to create jobs for the marginalised,” says the social entrepreneur.

[caption id="attachment_19876" align="aligncenter" width="503"] Social Entrepreneur | Gautam Malik Gautam Malik at Sankalp Forum[/caption]

The future is sustainable, thanks to Malik’s idea. “We are scaling up with a focus on marketing and social media as a business. As a social entrepreneur, I want to collaborate with like-minded people,” adds Gautam, a film and music aficionado. When not thinking ecologically, his two daughters are his go-to - reading Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls or just absorbing their positivity. “I want them grow up with a sense of freedom and stand up for themselves,” Gautam concludes.

Follow Gautam Malik on Linkedin

Reading Time: 6 min

Chef Meha Kumar crafts culinary masterpieces with a multicultural and cuisine-agnostic approach

The principle of umami or the fifth taste, focusing on a single ingredient, zero wastage and global influences make the food Chef Meha Kumar creates, truly original. (September 24, 2023) Expected to follow the family tradition of studying medicine or engineering, Chef Meha Kumar decided to follow her passion and signed up for the four-year course at the Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad in 2012. When she realised that the focus was more on theory than practical in college, she decided to expand her horizons. In Hyderabad for a curated pop-up menu experience, she says in an exclusive interview with the Global Indian, “I was hungry to learn and in the second year, I started applying to hotels and Michelin-star restaurants. I didn’t want the campus placement offered by the Taj and Oberoi groups of hotels that happens in our third year. I got selected for an internship at the Ritz Carlton in Barcelona, Spain.” [caption id="attachment_45347" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Chef Meha Kumar.[/caption] Viva la Espana The move to Spain truly changed the trajectory of Meha's career and has shaped her philosophy towards food. Her personal worldview and work ethic make her an individual who is passionate about her work, but also a

The move to Spain truly changed the trajectory of Meha's career and has shaped her philosophy towards food. Her personal worldview and work ethic make her an individual who is passionate about her work, but also a stickler for ethics and human decency. She says, “I was supposed to go to Spain for one year, but things kept progressing and I was there for eight years. I worked at the two-Michelin star restaurant called Enoteca in the Hotel Arts which is owned by Ritz Carlton; mentored by Chef Paco Perez. I also worked at the one Michelin star-rated Terra, another of his properties in Costa Brava, and at his restaurant Miramar in Llançà. Chef Perez is more than a mentor to me, he helped me with my craft, and it is from him that I learnt about commitment to sustainable cooking and zero wastage.”

All of 21, moving to a country where English wasn't the chief spoken language, it was initially tough. "I landed in Barcelona with €250, not knowing a soul. In order to learn Spanish, I would listen to the radio on my daily 40-minute walk to work. In my free time, I watched the series Friends in Spanish with English subtitles. Today, when I go back to Spain, I have friends who are like family and a home to stay no matter where I am.”

Though Meha was admittedly in love with the country, she decided to return to India last year. “I had to step out of Spain because I felt it was time to start working on creating my own bubble. I set up my company, where I am a gastronomy consultant, and can develop restaurant concepts, develop menus and the nomenclature of menus. I do pop-ups pan-India. My company is called Linearé, which is the Latin word for linear. It reflects the essence of my work.”

Gourmet Art

Meha’s creations are artistic, colour-composite and unique. She followed the principle of umami or the fifth taste in her latest pop up in Hyderabad in collaboration with The Hedonist, a Pune-based company that curates fine food experiences. She explains, “There are four basic tastes – sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Umami is the fifth taste. Umami is chemically known as glutamate or MSG, but it is naturally present in fermented fruit and vegetables.”

Meha’s creations can transform the humble potato or musk melon to gourmet status. A potato dish has the translucent jellified membrane of the tuber speckled with onion ash and the inside of the globe is full of a French potato cream. A musk melon creation includes roasted seeds, leather of the peel and cured chunks of the fruit in sugar and ginger. For Meha, the main ingredient is always the protagonist on the plate. She believes it cannot be hidden under other elements like sauces or garnishes. “The minimalist approach is a play on simplicity because you have to know what you are eating.” She has curated menus where each course is dedicated to exhaustive utilisation of a single ingredient and there were ten such courses with ingredients as exquisite as black radish, globe artichokes and white asparagus, to the very simple ones like tomato, onion and cauliflower.

[caption id="attachment_45335" align="aligncenter" width="504"] Meha's potato dish which has a translucent jellified membrane of the tuber speckled with onion ash and a French potato cream filling inside.[/caption]

Zero wastage is another of the foundations of her food. She says, “Chef Perez had extreme respect for the produce he used, and it resonated with me at a personal level. The best way to make food sustainable is to use all of it. The cost of food in any fine dining restaurant is at least 30-40 percent and by using everything, which is harder to do no doubt, instead of throwing it away, you make it sustainable. Even with root vegetables, soak them in water for a while, clean them well, roast and boil the peels of carrots or turnips with salt to make stock which can be the base of your soups.”

Mindful Eating

Are fine-dining pop-ups the new trend? And do such bite-sized portions truly make for a filling meal? She says, “There is a difference between filling and satisfying. When you have these dining experiences, you may not feel full, but you will finish your meal wanting a little more. I want to change the way people view fine dining; make it less intimidating and more approachable, where the diner takes away some learning from the experience. I interact with my guests and break down what I am serving so they understand the philosophy of the dish.”

Meha believes that these kinds of pop-ups are the future. “I think people should understand that it is beneficial to share knowledge and platforms. Restaurants need to keep reinventing so such pop ups help their image. Chefs too are able to innovate and display their creativity and it becomes a bigger, beneficial circle for everyone.”

Despite using global food influences to cook, the Global Indian favourite ingredients remain pepper, garlic, root vegetables, seafood, extra virgin olive oil and fresh chillies. And she claims she has a spiritual connection with artichoke. “In Spain, it was my first duty every day to cut the artichoke. It was a labour of love for me; the process of removing the leaves and fibres, the hair from the centre and then putting it in ice cold water with ascorbic acid. I had to do this daily for 40 of them. It was the time when I would be in the moment completely and gather myself for the day.” She also adds that seaweed as a flavour profile is extremely unutilised.

For someone still in her twenties to have created such a large volume of work is commendable. And she wants to continue pouring her passion into her beliefs about food in multiple forms.

Chef Meha eats at:

Barcelona: Dahzong for authentic traditional Chinese
El Pachuco, a Mexican bar for its cocktails like the Michelada
San Sebastián: La Cuchara de San Telmo for its small hearty plates like pork cheeks.

Follow Chef Meha on Instagram

India’s Unicorn Boom: How startups are changing the game

(May 11, 2022) In the last few years, India has emerged as the third largest ecosystem for startups globally with over 66,359 DPIIT-recognised startups across 642 districts. With many global leaders looking to invest in Indian market, the country is witnessing a boom in the number of unicorn companies - privately held startups with $1 billion valuation or above. Interestingly, India’s startup landscape has seen close to 100 unicorns being added since January 2019. Furthermore, the country is expected to birth more than 250 unicorns by 2025, according to the Iron Pillar report ‘India Tech Trends'. As the technology ecosystem continues to grow, Global Indian turns the spotlight on five companies, who recently made it to the country's unicorn club. MindTickle - Krishna Gopal Depura, Deepak Diwakar and Nishant Mungali In 2011, three Pune-based techies - Krishna Gopal Depura, Deepak Diwakar and Nishant Mungali started a group to take part in gamified knowledge-based treasure hunts as a hobby. The idea was not only to do something interesting, which could be at the intersection of fun and learning, but also transform the mundane life of corporates. Intrigued with the possibility of making a business out of their passion, they approached investors

orm the mundane life of corporates. Intrigued with the possibility of making a business out of their passion, they approached investors in 2011, pitched them MindTickle, and positioned the startup as a gamification platform for corporates.

[caption id="attachment_24360" align="aligncenter" width="699"] Krishna Gopal Depura, Deepak Diwakar and Nishant Mungali[/caption]

Ten years later, it was valued at $1.2 billion by SoftBank Vision fund, making it a unicorn company. Though MindTickle had its share of teething troubles, the founders never gave up on their vision. During an earlier interview, Krishna shared that though they were able to grab the attention of marquee venture capitalist (VC) fund Accel in 2012, over the next five years the business kept trickling in.

They had their eureka moment in 2015, when the founders realised that they were trying to sell their product in the wrong market. To set things right, MindTickle team used LinkedIn to gauge the need for training for sales executives. After realising that their product suited the US market, they focussed sharply on solving the pain points of business leaders who were looking for sharper and ready sales staff for their business.

Soon MindTickle started striking multi-million dollar deals with single customers. In 2017, MindTickle raised $27 million. Two years later, came $40 million in a series C round. Next to follow was a hefty cheque of $100 million from SoftBank Vision Fund in November 2020, which made MindTickle SoftBank’s first software-as-a-service (Saas) investment in India.

The startup now claims to have over 250 customers, and gets 80 percent of its revenue from the US, with the rest coming from Europe and Asia.

Follow MindTickle on Twitter and LinkedIn

PharmEasy - Dhaval Shah, Harsh Parekh, Siddharth Shah, Hardik Dedhia, and Dharmil Sheth

The pharma industry has never been an organised sector in India. However, a six-year-old company changed the game by bringing together patients, pharmacies and diagnostic centers on one platform. In 2015, two young Mumbaikars – Dharmil Seth, an alumnus of IMT Ghaziabad, and Dr Dhaval Shah, an MBBS from Rajiv Gandhi Medical College, came together to digitalise the medicine industry, so that one could order their medicines from a wide range of e-commerce medical stores online and get them delivered online without any hassles.

[caption id="attachment_24361" align="aligncenter" width="741"] Dhaval Shah, Harsh Parekh, Siddharth Shah, Hardik Dedhia, and Dharmil Sheth[/caption]

Since then, its B2B business has grown manifold. In 2019, PharmEasy merged with Ascent Health, to form API Holdings, which brought in three new co-founders on board – Siddharth Shah, Hardik Dedhia, and Harsh Parekh. In 2021, the startup joined the unicorn club and became the first e-pharmacy to do so with a valuation of $1.5 billion.

However, PharmEasy has its share of challenges, including the supply chain logistics. The biggest roadblock initially was the lack of digitised records. To overcome this, the founders ensured that every retailer they work with has digital records and a proper system by offering inventory management and accounting tools.

Today, the B2B pharma distribution business connects over a whopping 100,000 retailers to around 4,500 distributors. Furthermore, PharmEasy is looking to expand its diagnostic business which has witnessed a massive surge in the past year.

Follow PharmEasy on Twitter and LinkedIn

Moglix - Rahul Garg

Backed by Ratan Tata and Accel Partners, Moglix was launched in 2016 by an IIT-Kanpur and ISB alumnus, Rahul Garg. Headquartered in Singapore, its mission is to tide over the gap between B2B merchants and consumers, and develop an exclusive digital-trade ecosystem, tailor-made to satisfy the diverse needs of buyers and sellers.

[caption id="attachment_24362" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Rahul Garg[/caption]

One of Asia’s largest and fastest-growing supply chain services companies, Moglix joined India's unicorn club in May 2021 after raising Series E round funding of $120 million that boosted the company's valuation to surpass the $1 billion mark. However, the company did go through some tough time during the global pandemic. In the wake of the massive global supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19, Moglix looked to partnering with enterprises across industry verticals to map their supply chain requirements and provide technology-enabled solutions that are customised and scalable. They even provided PPE, medical kits, cleaning and housekeeping items, and surface agents at economical prices through its e-commerce portal moglix.com.

At present, the company claims to provide solutions and industrial products to more than 500,000 small and medium enterprises as well as to over 1000 large manufacturers across India and the UAE. It has a supply chain network of over 16,000 suppliers, and operates across 40 warehouses along with an in-house logistics infrastructure.

Follow Moglix on Twitter and LinkedIn

CoinDCX - Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal

Even though the world of crypto is still volatile with no clarity on the legality of the digital asset, two college friends- Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal – pooled in all their life savings to start cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX in 2018. Unfortunately, it was the same year when Reserve Bank of India issued a banking ban on crypto transactions. Several crypto startups had to shut shop or continue operations while navigating numerous roadblocks. CoinDCX, too, decided to fight the uphill battle and was among the few players that contested the regulator’s ban in court.

[caption id="attachment_24363" align="aligncenter" width="707"] Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal[/caption]

In March 2020, the Supreme Court lifted the ban on cryptocurrency exchanges and one-and-a-half years later, CoinDCX became the first crypto startup to enter the unicorn club with a $90 million funding led by B Capital. During an interview, Sumit shared that the CoinDCX team has seen the total spectrum of fundraising in the space during their journey. What helped them was keeping their heads down and focusing on building their company.

With over 3.5 million users, CoinDCX is now aiming to make crypto more accessible in India and accelerate its efforts of bringing 50 million Indians into the crypto fold.

Follow CoinDCX on Twitter and LinkedIn

GlobalBees - Deepak Khetan, Nitin Agarwal, and Supam Maheshwari

Based on the Thrasio model, e-commerce startup GlobalBees was founded in May 2021 by FirstCry founder Supam Maheshwari and Edelweiss’ former President Nitin Agarwal. The idea was to acquire digital-first brands across categories such as beauty, nutrition, food, fitness, personal care, lifestyle, home, sports and lifestyle, which have a revenue rate of $1 million to $20 million, and help them scale up and grow. In just seven months, GlobalBees made it to the unicorn list in December 2021, by raising $150 million in a Series A financing round led by FirstCry.

[caption id="attachment_24364" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Deepak Khetan, Nitin Agarwal, and Supam Maheshwari[/caption]

In the last few years, many ecommerce brands have cropped up in India, owing to the evolution of the ecosystem with better logistics, deeper internet penetration, and increased consumer interest and trust. However, what make GlobalBees different is their ambition to build the product and focus on innovation. The company acquires and partners with sellers on Amazon and equips them with capabilities across marketing and growth, technology, distribution, sourcing, branding, warehousing, logistics, R&D, product development, and operations — all things essential to rapidly scale the brands in the digital space.

GlobalBees has acquired 12 brands across categories, including The Better Home, Prolixr, Absorbia, Yellow Chimes, HealthyHey, and others. Presently, the company’s strategy is to work with these and build them up.

Follow GlobalBees on Twitter and LinkedIn

Reading Time: 7 mins

Chef Manuel Olveira: A master of Spanish cuisine redefining dining at La Loca Maria, Mumbai

(December 2, 2024) Chef Manuel Olveira, the creative force behind Mumbai’s acclaimed restaurants La Loca Maria and La Panthera, has redefined how Spanish and European cuisines are experienced in India. After graduating from Universidad Laboral Toledo, he gained invaluable experience working in Michelin-starred kitchens and prestigious establishments worldwide, including JW Marriott Mumbai and St. Regis Saadiyat Island. In Mumbai, Manuel has brought his deep appreciation for Spanish culinary traditions to life, creating dishes that marry global sophistication with local ingredients. Growing up in Toledo, Spain, in a family of restaurateurs, Manuel’s mother’s restaurant was his first introduction to the bustle of the kitchen. He started helping her as a teenager and watched her prepare traditional Spanish dishes. She’d let him taste the paella broth or help with tasks like making meatballs, all while explaining the importance of fresh, local ingredients and simple, bold flavours. “School, on the other hand, never really captured my interest. I knew early on that my passion lay in the kitchen, not in academics or higher education. So, as soon as I finished school, I enrolled in culinary school in Toledo. That decision felt natural—it was the first step toward turning my passion into a career

assion into a career and pursuing a path that truly excited me,” he recollects, in an interview with Global Indian.

Career Cues

Over the course of his career, he has worked as Chef De Cuisine at several illustrious hotels around the world, including St. Regis – Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi and Le Cirque and Café Belge at The Ritz-Carlton in Dubai & J.W Marriot in Mumbai. “Working in Michelin/ high-end restaurants within five-star hotels is both challenging and exhausting. You need an immense amount of grit," Chef Olveira admits. These environments, he says, demand perfection in every way, from quality of the food and its presentation, to top-tier service. "The pace is intense and there is a constant focus on maintaining the highest standards to meet the expectations of a global clientele,” he explains. As these places have a strong emphasis on consistency, creativity, and innovation, he admits that he was constantly pushing boundaries to stay ahead, adapting to trends while remaining true to the essence of the cuisine. “You are not just preparing meals; you are crafting experiences. Attention to detail is critical, from sourcing the finest ingredients to ensuring every dish is plated with precision. Collaboration is also key, as you work closely with a diverse team of chefs and staff, each bringing their own expertise and perspectives,” he adds.

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Working as Chef de Cuisine at St. Regis – Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, and Le Cirque and Café Belge at The Ritz-Carlton in Dubai, as well as JW Marriott in Mumbai, was an incredible journey that shaped him as a chef. “These kitchens brought together teams from all over the world, and leading such diverse groups taught me the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and cultural appreciation. Each chef brought unique techniques and perspectives from their home countries, creating a melting pot of ideas and experiences. These roles not only strengthened my leadership skills but also deepened my understanding of how food can connect people across cultures,” he says.

India Calling

After working in some of the finest kitchens and renowned Spanish Chefs such as Sergi Arola, Pepe Rodriguez and Paco Perez,he wanted to bring something personal to Mumbai's food scene with dishes that reflected his journey and his love for simple, bold flavours. The result was La Loca Maria focuses on modern Spanish cuisine, while La Panthera offers a fresh take on European dining in a lively, welcoming atmosphere. “A big part of this dream has been my wife, Mickee Tuljapurkar, whose vision and creativity have shaped both our restaurants. Together, we have created spaces that are extensions of ourselves and a place where guests can enjoy great food and drinks with beautiful ambiance and friendly service,” he adds.

Over the past decade living in Mumbai, he has witnessed a shift in the palate of Indian diners. There is a greater openness to global cuisines, with dishes being served in their more authentic forms, rather than being overly adapted to local tastes. “The restaurant scene in India is rapidly evolving, with a growing number of concept-driven, chef-owned establishments that focus on quality and innovation. Chefs now have the freedom to create dishes they are truly passionate about, offering diners a more authentic and personalized experience,” he says.

Staying Inspired

Manuel Olveira says that for him inspiration comes from many places including his culinary journey across different countries, the ingredients he works with, and the people he meets along the way. “Ultimately, it’s the passion for my work and the desire to keep growing, learning, and sharing that keeps me going. What makes India’s dining scene particularly exciting is its incredible diversity; each region brings its own unique culinary influences, opening endless possibilities for creativity and a rich interplay of flavours,” he explains. Likewise, developing new dishes and innovating in the kitchen is always an exciting process for him. “We look at what produce is in season to bring the freshest flavours to our table. We have brainstorming sessions with our team. We draw inspiration from our travels, dining experiences, culinary books, and even casual conversations. We're continuously exploring new flavour combinations and techniques keeps our menu fresh and exciting,” he says.

His culinary style leans towards a full-on sensory experience that feels seriously special. “Food that really connects and stays with you long after you leave. Anybody who has ever set foot in Spain knows that it is home to the most amazing produce, countless specialties, and cooking techniques. I infuse this classic culinary heritage using local produce into creating Spanish/ European dishes that are modern, elegantly plated and develop simple, robust flavours that are a delight to taste. I believe food should taste, smell, and look equally exceptional,” he adds. Outside work, cycling gives him peace. “After a hectic day at the restaurant, when I get on the bike, I forget everything else. I also make sure to go for one ski trip every year. The focus and discipline required is a lot like cooking in the kitchen and the connection with the mind and inner self becomes stronger,” he concludes.

Follow Chef Manuel Olveira on Instagram.

Polar Express: How an Arctic expedition inspired environmentalist Neelima Mishra

(Aug 2, 2023) Neelima Mishra has been a 'conscious planeteer' for as long as she can recall. However, one major turning point came through her Arctic expedition, a transformative experience that fueled her desire to fight for the planet’s well-being even more strongly. She went on to found her social enterprise, Ceiba Green Solutions, based in Bhubaneswar, with a primary focus on addressing Odisha's waste management challenges. Neelima has worked as consultant to the government of Odisha, playing a crucial role in monitoring and evaluating government schemes, as well as leading the expansion of evidence-based programmes. She did her M.Phil at Cambridge University as a Chevening Scholar. In 2019, Neelima Mishra was chosen from a pool of 5,000 global applicants to be part of an exclusive 80-member team for the prestigious Climate Force Arctic Expedition, organised by US based 2041 Foundation. Unwilling to lose out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she crowd-funded her expedition. [caption id="attachment_43051" align="aligncenter" width="627"] Neelima Mishra[/caption] Under the leadership of Sir Robert Swan (OBE), who is the first person to walk to both the South and the North Pole, Neelima headed to the Svalbard archipelago, some 500 miles from the North Pole towards Norway. Their destination

oundation. Unwilling to lose out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she crowd-funded her expedition.

[caption id="attachment_43051" align="aligncenter" width="627"] Social Entrepreneur | Nileema Mishra | Global Indian Neelima Mishra[/caption]

Under the leadership of Sir Robert Swan (OBE), who is the first person to walk to both the South and the North Pole, Neelima headed to the Svalbard archipelago, some 500 miles from the North Pole towards Norway. Their destination offered an authentic and immersive Arctic experience at the very edge of the habitable world. “The most significant part of the expedition was to see how climate change is impacting us,” Neelima tells Global Indian.

The Arctic experience

The Arctic expedition was as transformative as expected. The team went on long hikes across the Svalbard, rode Zodiacs (small, inflatable boats that transport people on excursions away from the cruise ship), made observation visits and collaborated with scientists from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research. “One unforgettable experience was of taking a plunge into the Arctic waters. There’s simply nothing that can compare to the numbing, yet breathtaking experience of immersing oneself in the dark, deep waters of the Arctic," she recalls.

The beauty of the Arctic was awe-inspiring, but although she was expecting them, the signs of climate change and environmental pollution still caught her off-guard. "A temperature between one to 12 degrees is not what we had anticipated at the Arctic," she said. "When I was prepared for specialised clothing for sub-zero temperatures, all I experienced was unexpectedly mild weather."

It was a profound revelation, shedding light on the urgent challenges our planet faces due to climate change, as well as the devastating impact of waste, especially single-use plastics. As she trekked through the highlands, Neelima was taken aback by the sight of plastic cigarette lighters, bottles, bottle caps, toothbrushes, fishing nets, and a host of other discarded materials, even at such high altitudes. It was a stark reminder of the grave consequences of human actions on nature.

Contrary to the perception of harsh and inhospitable climates, Neelima found the Arctic to be home to abundant and diverse creatures, including wildlife, birds, mosses, whales, reindeers, and polar bears, among others. These living beings in such cold regions served as clear indicators of how these regions are getting warmer day by day.

What happens in Arctic impacts the entire Earth

Neelima and her team also observed new sea ice, which is recently formed and more susceptible to melting. “This poses a significant problem because sea ice plays a crucial role as a reflector of the sun's rays, helping maintain cooler temperatures on our planet. However, if the sea ice melts, temperatures will soar," explains the environmental enthusiast from Odisha.

"Researchers predict that by 2030, all sea-ice may disappear during the warmest months of the year. As a result, the once-uninhabitable part of the planet will open up to human activities like fishing, shipping routes and other forms of exploration,” she says.

During the expedition, Neelima realized that the impact of climate change is not limited to the Arctic region alone. Changes at the North Pole profoundly impact weather patterns across the planet. “Cyclone Fani in Odisha is a stark reminder of this,” Neelima says. “Cyclones and natural disasters like these have occurred in various parts of India, underscoring the destruction caused by climate change. Although Odisha and the Arctic are miles apart, the weather conditions show a close connection between the conditions at the Arctic and the rest of the Earth," she emphasizes.

[caption id="attachment_43053" align="aligncenter" width="711"] Social Entrepreneur | Nileema Mishra | Global Indian Neelima Mishra with Sir Robert Swan[/caption]

Stepping into social entrepreneurship

Before embarking on her Arctic expedition, Neelima was already working as a consultant for the Government of Odisha in Bhubaneshwar. When she returned, she found she could no longer ignore the city’s escalating garbage problem, which she encountered on her daily walks to work. She saw the sorry plight of waste-pickers, often children, scavenging through the trash, animals feeding on the litter and the once-pristine cityscape degrading. It sparked in her a deep desire to take action, instead of being a passive observer.

Within just six months of her return, she established Ceiba Green Solutions. The name 'Ceiba' is inspired by ‘Semul’, the genus of the Indian red-silk cotton tree, also known as the Indian kapok. As a for-profit social enterprise, the organisation aims to develop feasible solutions and initiatives to combat the mounting waste problem.

For a better life

Ceiba Green focuses on composting solutions, single use plastics through a curated ecommerce store, and waste education. By doing so, it enables people to divert kitchen waste away from landfills, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the generation of nutrient-rich soil. To raise awareness, Neelima and her team conduct workshops, board games, expos, and outreach activities in collaboration with schools, corporates, and organisations, with the goal of inspiring positive environmental actions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9muMg4XaNV4

“We educate people about how waste can be a resource if you segregate it. Waste should be your responsibility, not the responsibility of the municipality,” she tells.

The pandemic placed limitations in their operations, but Neelima and her team saw it as an opportunity. They came up with the idea of the Ceiba Store, an e-commerce platform. “The store serves as a curated marketplace dedicated to promoting re-usable, genuinely bio-degradable and eco-friendly products,” explains Neelima. Through this initiative, she aims to motivate people to shift from a single-use plastic mindset to embracing a reusable lifestyle.

Making impact

Ceiba Green gained recognition in a short span of time, and so has Neelima. Her insights are sought at various platforms. As a participant at the NELIS (Next Leaders Initiative in Sustainability) Asia Summit in Singapore, she engaged in dialogue on various aspects of sustainability, including food, agriculture, water, resources, and energy, throwing light on the growing disparities between developing and developed nations.

Neelima has also served as a mentor at the Circular Innovation Jam 2020, spanning across five countries in South and Southeast Asia. Despite being new in the start-up sphere, she was chosen to guide students, assist them in refining their ideas and foster solutions for a sustainable future.

[caption id="attachment_43054" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Social Entrepreneur | Nileema Mishra | Global Indian Neelima receives award from Shri Ganesh Lal, Governor of Odisha[/caption]

Recently, she received the Utkal Samman award for climate change from the Governor of Odisha. “If you have the right intentions and if you are aware of the consequences of your actions on others, the planet and you, then you are in the right direction,” Neelima says, adding, “Complex environmental issues can be broken up into small yet impactful actions that can be taken on a daily basis."

Follow Neelima Mishra on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook
For more information on Ceiba Green Solutions, visit its website

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